Jacob Bethell has made no secret of his desire to cement England’s number three spot in Test cricket, but the 22-year-old admits he still has some way to go before he can call it his own. Recalled for the fourth Ashes Test, Bethell responded with a vital 40 in the second innings as England were chasing 175 to beat Australia by four wickets, ending an 18-match winless run on Australian soil.
Having reached no higher than number four in first-class cricket the year before last, Bethell’s promotion represents a significant step in his young career. He returned to the Melbourne side in place of Ollie Pope amid renewed debate over England’s top-order composition. Although he was dropped to number four in the second innings, his contribution brought much-needed stability as England wrapped up a tight game.
Reflecting on the demands of batting at three, Bethell said the role suited both his temperament and skills. “I like three. You come in when the ball is new and in some scenarios the ball goes all over the shop, but in other scenarios it presents a scoring opportunity when the bowlers are trying to get wickets and the pitches are attacking – there are a lot of gaps,” he said. “I still have work to do to call it my position.
Bethell’s return to the Ashes followed a disrupted 2025 marked by injuries and limited red-ball opportunities. After scoring three half-centuries on the New Zealand tour last December, his progress stalled due to fitness setbacks and selection changes. However, his innings at the MCG reignited the debate over England’s long-term options at number three.
A curious split has so far appeared in the record of Bethell’s Test. His average is close to 67 in the second innings, compared to just nine in the first innings, prompting calls for more exposure to red-ball cricket. Former England captain Alastair Cook believes time is of the essence. “It’s about adapting your game to the situation. Jacob needs to learn red-ball cricket,” Cook said. “He’s got a lot of talent but he needs exposure to red-ball cricket. That’s the only objection the English have to putting him in this side.”
Bethell, meanwhile, credits his stint in the Indian Premier League with Royal Challengers Bengaluru as valuable preparation for high-pressure moments. Sharing the dressing room with Virat Kohli, he said, helped improve his understanding of performing under the microscope. “It’s knowing what I can get out of myself when the situation is like that and when the atmosphere is like that,” Bethell said. “I definitely had a lot more confidence coming into this game after playing in Bengaluru in front of, I don’t know, 50,000 – which felt like 100,000.
He is expected to retain his place for the final Ashes Test in Sydney, offering another chance to strengthen his case as a long-term top-order option. Apart from the series, Bethell is set for white-ball commitments and a return to the IPL, with his next first-class outing likely during England’s home summer against New Zealand in June.
For now, he’s focused firmly on the present. “I’m not thinking too far ahead yet,” Bethell said. “Hopefully in Sydney next week and then we’ve got a lot of cricket to play until next summer.” Asked about locking down the number three role, he added: “I’d just like to hang on to any role in the team. If you’re in the XI and you’re contributing to the win, I’m quite happy with that.”
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
December 29, 2025
